10th European Corporate Governance Conference BRUSSELS, 6 & 7 December 2010

As from the 1st of July the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union is a fact! As an official event under this Belgian Presidency, GUBERNA organizes a European Corporate Governance Conference on 6 & 7 December 2010, in Brussels. The event is supported by the European Commission and the content partners Vlerick Leuven Ghent Management School, ECGI (European Corporate Governance Institute), EABiS (European Academy for Business in Society) and ecoDa (European Confederation of Directors' Associations).

On the first day several working groups will discuss to what extent academic research can help to cope with the numerous challenges corporate governance is faced with in Europe and throughout the world. The dinner event will reflect on the European policy towards better corporate governance. The second day is a business and policy oriented day, where business leaders, policy makers and academic circles exchange views on concrete steps forward to make governance more effective. It will explore new combinations of board, shareholder and external monitoring.

Questions that will be tackled during these two days are:

Board director duties in a European and international context:

• The diverse nature of director duties as shaped by different jurisdictions, societal models and governance systems.
• The contrasting nature of meeting shareholder value duties as against corporate and broader stakeholder interests. The challenge of migrating from shareholder value to enlightened shareholder value or to shared value?
• Or are we on the route towards a hybrid European and/or global model of directorship?

Where are we in the quest to make boards more effective?

• Considering what is needed to improve board leadership.
• Assessing how a collection of ‘part timers’ can be transformed into a high performing board team.
• How can we enhance board dynamics and board decision-making?
• Reflecting on what type and degree of diversity (knowledge, experience, background, gender, nationality and age) can improve board performance. How do you transform such a diverse group into a board team?
• Examining the utility of board appraisal as a mechanism for enriching board effectiveness.

Shareholder monitoring as the final arbiter of the governance of a corporation?

• What lessons can be learned from the financial crisis? To what extent are these lessons also relevant for non-financial institutions?
• The European review of monitoring compliance with corporate governance codes: challenges?
• Shareholder monitoring in combination with board and external monitoring: different combinations in different types of shareholder structures?
• How to optimize the impact and role of long-term shareholders? From abuse of control position and private benefits to long-term value creation?
• Will (institutional) shareholders raise to the ownership challenge? Do beneficial owners really have the financial and human resources to effectively engage with companies? How to evolve from absent landlords to engaged owners?
• What are the costs and benefits of sustained shareholder engagement? How can this ultimately translate into improved shareholder value?

For a more detailed overview of the draft program, please consult the website (regular updates of the programme will be available).